Internal-combustion engine



et. 8, 1946. T. P. SOPROUNOFF 2,403,890

INTERNAL- COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July 8, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In Q3 RG4 FIG i FIGS N 17150061? B SokRou/voFr 37 37 v INVENTOR BY v 7%: f-.mmw

ATTORNEY 1946. r. P. SOPROUNOFF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1943 P I G. 9 56 ,5;

PIGM 1 16.12

ZIHEODOREB SO-PROUNOFF INVENTOR Patented Oct. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Theodor P. Soprounoif, New York, N. Y.

Application July 8, 1943, Serial No. 493,814

7 Claims.

. movement, which automatically varies th stroke in one cylinder in which compression takes place by varying the stroke in a preceding cylinder in which the piston is driven by the force of explosion. I accomplish this purpose by providing a free bushing on the crankshaft of the engine with eccentrics so arranged that the bushing takes a variable position in relation to the shaft depending on the relative strength of the forces acting on the eccentrics. The bushing provides therefore a floating connection between the two pistons whereby the force of explosion in one cylinder is used for increasing compression in the next cylinder, the power output of the engine varying in accordance with the change of the compression stroke. Thus it becomes possible to obtain relatively greater compression with weak mixtures when the engine is throttled down, and the mean effective pressure of the engine is increased by using th peak of the explosion force for adjusting the rate of piston movement and transferring the excess of explosion force at the moment of explosion to the subsequent stage of expansion. An added advantage is also obtained by thus reducing the maximum pressure of the bearings and moving parts,

Another object of my invention is to utilize the difference of pressure due to the additional relative movement of pistons for increasing the length of the piston stroke during the exhaust so as to obtain complete expulsion of the exhaust gases from the cylinder by moving the piston closely against the bottom of the cylinder. The intake stroke is thereby also increased, resulting in a larger volume of the explosive mixture being drawn into the cylinder. This purpose is obtained by providing the engine with a pair of cylinders, or several such pairs. The pistons in every pair being connected to a common crank of the shaft by a floating bushing with two eccentrics so arranged that the bushing is rotated by the force of explosion in one cylinder, placing the other eccentric in a position in which it completes the exhaust stroke more fully. The engine for this purpose can be built as a two cylinder engine or any other type such as opposed, radial or V-type.

My invention is more fully described in the accompanying specification and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of a four cylinder double opposed engine;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same;

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of an eccentric sleeve for the crankshaft;

Fig, 5 is an elevational View partly in section of a multicylinder engine with a single eccentrio;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the same;

Figs. '7 and 8 are detail views of an eccentric;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view partly in section of a modified multi-cylinder engine;

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view of the same;

Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views of the eccentric for the engine shown in Figs. 9 and 10;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of the eccentric in different positions on the shaft of the engine shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

My engine as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a casing l with bearings 2, 3 for a crankshaft 4 and cylinders 5, 6 at one side and 1, 8 at the other side. Pistons 9, II), II and I2 ar fitted in the cylinders with connecting rods I3, l4, l5, l6 engaging eccentrics l1, l8, l9 and 20, the eccentric sleeve forming a single bushing rotatively fitted on a crank pin 22 of the crankshaft 4.

The centers of the eccentrics are successively displaced in relation to each other as shown so that when the piston I2 is in its highest exhaust position, the piston 9 is in the firing position. The opposite pistons l0 and Il are then both in the lowest positions, piston II at the end of its working stroke, the piston 10 at the end of the intake stroke.

The operation of my mechanism is as follows:

Assuming that the crankshaft rotates in direction of an arrow 23, Fig. 2, combustible mixture has just been ignited in the cylinder 5, piston 9 moving downward and rotating the crankshaft. Piston II] will begin its compression stroke, the eccentric I! being then subjected to the working pressure indicated by the arrow 24, and under compression pressure in the cylinder 1 as indi cated by an arrow 25, acting on the eccentric l8. These two forces are at an angle to each other and will tend to turn the eccentric sleeve on the crank pin when the compression pressure in the cylinder 1 becomes greater than the working pressure in the cylinder 5. This rotation of the eccentric sleeve on the crank pin causes simultaneous additional relative movement of all pistons in the cylinders because of the rigid connection between the eccentrics. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the piston l2, at the beginning of the working stroke in cylinder 5, is moved in a position in which it reaches the bottom of the cylinder 6, completely expelling the exhaust gases. The next explosion will be in the cylinder 1. Additional relative movement of the pistons increases compression space in the cylinder 1. The piston of cylinder 8 at the end of the compression cylinder 1 reaches the top of cylinder 8, completely expelling the exhaust gases. The action will be the same for the next explosion in the cylinders 6 and 8. It will be noted that rotation of the eccentric is produced and controlled only by the working pressure in one cylinder and by the compression pressure in another cylinder, and no other additional mechanism is used for such rotation. It may be seen that the exhaust and the intake strokes are considerably greater than the compression and power stroke with the result that more combustible mixture is introduced into the cylinders. The engine being supercharged to that extent, and the exhaust gases are more completely expelled, leaving a clean combustion chamber for receiving a fresh charge of the mixture.

My system is also applicable to radial engines. A seven cylinder engine is ShOWn in Figs. an'dffi with cylinders 27, 28, 29, 35, 3|, 32, 33 mounted one common crankcase 34 with a crankshaft 35 having a single crank pin 36. An eccentric collar or ring 31 is rotatively mounted on the crank pin and is pivotally connected at 38 to connecting rods 39 extendingfrom pistons 46, 4|, 42, '43, M, 45 and 46. The firing order is so arranged that the power strokes follow each other in every other cylinder, first in odd numbers, and then in even numbered cylinders.

' Thus when explosion takes place in the cylinder 27, th piston 40 will move downward in direction of an arrow 41, rotating the crankshaft and causing compression in the cylinder 29. The working pressure of cylinder 2'! will be opposed. by the compression pressure in the cylinder 29 as shown by the arrow 48 so that the eccentric ring will rotate under action of these forces in direction of an arrow fifi, the position of the eccentric ring at every moment being determined by the balance of these forces. .As a result the compression space of the cylinders or the piston displacements will be automatically varied.

Thus when explosion takes place in the cylinder 29, ,the force of explosion acting through the piston will turn the eccentric ring 31 in direction of an arrow 49 while turning the crankshaft, thereby increasing the displacement of the explosion chamber and reducing the peak of the pressure. The rotation of the eccentric ring 3'! simultaneously causes additional relative movements of all the other pistons. The piston 40 of the cylinder 21 will also receive an additional movement from the eccentric ring 3'! due to the explosion in the cylinder '29, part of the explosion force in the cylinder 29 being thereby transmitted into the cylinder 21 where working stroke takes place. This engine thereby has an advantage in that the volume of the compression chamber automatically varies and the volume of the explosion chamber also varies, being automatically increased at the moment of explosion, reducing the maximum pressure, and transmitting a portion of this pressure into the next cylinder where working stroke takes .place.

It should be noted, however, that while the 4 maximum value of the explosion pressure is decreased, a relatively greater pressure is obtained on a longer portion of the piston travel so that the mean effective pressure of the cylinder is increased, thereby increasing its power output and efliciency.

A ten cylinder engine is shown in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive with two sets of cylinders, each set having five cylinders, radially mounted on a common crankcase 6| at equal distances apart. Cylinders of one set are numbered 5|, 52, 53, 54, 55 and of the other set 56, 51, 58, 59, 60. A common crankshaft 62 is journaled in the crankcase and is provided with a ingle crank 63. An eccentric collar 64 is rotatively mounted on the crank and is pivotally connected at 65, 65 to connecting rods 66, 66, engaging eccentrics 61, 68 extending from pistons 69, 10, 1|, 72, 13 in one group and W3, 15, T6, 11, 18 in the other group. This engine combines the features shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the features of the engine of Figs. 5 and 6.

Successive positions of the eccentrics are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 13. Assuming that the piston of th cylinder 5| has just finished its compression stroke. The eccentric 61 will then take its lowest position with the eccentric 68 in the uppermost position. Following the explosion in the cylinder 5| the crank will turn toward the axes of the cylinders 52 and 51. The cylinder 52 will be under compression and the cylinder 5'! will have an exhaust stroke. The eccentric 51 will be under action of the Working pressure in the cylinder 5| and compression of the cylinder 52 so that its position at every moment will be determined by the balance of these forces. As a result, the compression space of the cylinders or the piston displacement will be automatically varied. If an explosion now occurs in the combustion space of the cylinder 52, the piston under action of this explosion force will increase the displacement of the explosion cham. her and will correspondingly reduce the explosion pressure. The eccentric ring will rotate around crank pin under action of the explosion force in direction of an arrow 19 and will produce an added additional relative movement to the pistons of all the other cylinders.

The eccentric 67, turning under the force of explosionin the cylinder 52, will cause an additionalv relative movement of the piston of cylinder 51 through an eccentric 68, forcing the piston of cylinder 57 to the top of the cylinder, completely expellingthe exhaust gases. At the same time the eccentric'fil under. the same conditions will provide anadditional movement to the piston 69 of the cylinder 5|, partly transmitting the pressure of the explosion-in the cylinder 52 to the cylinder 5| wherethe working stroke takes place.

The explosions in the cylinders may follow each other in a. diiferent order. The order of explosions changes direction of rotation of the eccentric ring on the crank.

The compression chamber in this engine is automatically increased and the compression pressure reduced in the cylinder in which there is an explosion at the start of the engine.

The engine of Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive has all the advantages of the engine of Figs. 5and Sand, besides, effects a complete exhaust of the burned ases.

It is understood that my internal combustion engines may be further modifiedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention,pas set, forth in the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:

1. An internal combustion engine comprisin a plurality of cylinders mounted on a crankcase; a crankshaft rotatively mounted in the crankcase having a single crank pin; an eccentric sleeve rotatively mounted on the crank pin of the crankshaft; a collar rotatively mounted on the sleeve; pistons in the cylinders with connecting rods; and operative connections between the inner ends of the connecting rods and the collar for causing rotation of the eccentric sleeve on the crank pin solely by the difference of pressure in one cylinder between working pressure and compression pressure in another cylinder acting on the collar for imparting to all pistons of the cylinders a simultaneous additional relative movement thereby varying the volume and pressure of compression chambers in the cylinders depending on the induction volume of mixture in the cylinders.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of cylinders mounted on a crankcase; a crankshaft rotatively mounted on the'crankcase, having a single crank pin; an eccentric sleeve rotatively mounted on the crank pin of the crankshaft; a collar rotatively mounted on the sleeve; pistons on the cylinders with connecting rods; and operative connections between the inner ends of the connecting rods and the collar for causing rotation of the eccentric sleeve on the crank pin solely by utilizing the difference between the explosion pressure in one cylinder and working pressure in the other cylinders acting on the collar, for providing all pistons of the cylinders with simultaneous additional relative movement which transmits a part of explosion pressure from one cylinder in which explosion just occurred to the other cylinders in which working stroke takes place, thereby increasing the power of the engine.

3. A multicylinder internal combustion engine having a crankcase with a crankshaft, cylinders radially extending from the crankcase, and pistons in the cylinders with connecting rods; in combination, an eccentric rotatively supported on the crankpin of the crankshaft; a collar rotatively mounted on the eccentric rigidly connected to the inner end of one of the connecting rods; and means for connecting the inner ends of the other connecting rods with the collar, the firing order of the cylinders being so arranged as to produce a component force of an explosion in one cylinder and compression in another cylinder acting on successive peripheral portions of the collar for causing th eccentric to rotate, thereby varying the compression space in the cylinders the variations in the strokes being effected solely by the component force.

4. A multicylinder internal combustion engine having a crankcase with a crankshaft, cylinders radially extending from the crankcase, and pistons in the cylinders with connecting rods; in combination, an eccentric rotatively supported on the crankpin of the crankshaft; a collar rotatively mounted on the eccentric, rigidly connected to the inner end of one of the connecting rods; and means for connecting the inner ends of the other connecting rods with the collar, the firing order of the cylinders being arranged for causing explosions to tak place alternately in the direction of rotation of the crankshaft, causing the eccentric to b rotated on the crankshaft solely by the pressure on the collar, thereby alternately varying the compression space in the cylinders.

5. A multicylinder internal combustion engine having a crankcase with a crankshaft, cylinders radially extending from the crankcase, and pistons in the cylinders with connecting rods; in combination, an eccentric rotatively supported on the crankpin of the crankshaft; a collar rotatively mounted on the eccentric rigidly connected to the inner end of one of the connecting rods; and means for connecting the inner ends of the other connecting rods with the collar, the firing order of the cylinder being arranged for causing explosions to take place successively in alternate cylinders in the direction of rotation of the crankshaft, causing the eccentric to rotate on the crankshaft solely by the pressure on the collar, thereby increasing the compression space.

6. In a multicylinder internal combustion engine having a crankcase with a crankshaft and cylinders with pistons and connecting rods ex-.

tending radially from the crankshaft; in combination, an eccentric rotatively mounted on the crankpin of the crankshaft; a collar rotatively mounted on the eccentric; pivoted connections between the collar and the inner ends of the connecting rods, the firing order of the cylinders being arranged for producing a succession of impulses for rotatively displacing the eccentric on the crankshaft solely by the pressure on the collar, the impulses constituting component forces of the explosions and compressions in alternate cylinders.

7. An internal combustion engine comprising several cylinders and a crankshaft, the cylinders extending radially in different directions from the crankshaft, the cylinder having pistons with connecting rods operatively connected to the crankshaft; and means operated solely by the balance of forces of explosion and compression in different cylinders for varying the displacement o the cylinders.

THEODOR P. SOPROUNOFF. 

